vestige

[ ves-tij ]

noun

1. a mark, trace, or visible evidence of something that is no longer present or in existence:

   A few columns were the last vestiges of a Greek temple.

   Synonyms: token

2. a surviving evidence or remainder of some condition, practice, etc.:

   These superstitions are vestiges of an ancient religion.

3. a very slight trace or amount of something:

   Not a vestige remains of the former elegance of the house.

   Synonyms: suggestion, hint

4. Biology. a degenerate or imperfectly developed organ or structure that has little or no utility, but that in an earlier stage of the individual or in preceding evolutionary forms of the organism performed a useful function.
5. Archaic. a footprint; track.

vestige

/ ˈvɛstɪdʒ /

noun

1. a small trace, mark, or amount; hint

   a vestige of truth

   no vestige of the meal

2. biology an organ or part of an organism that is a small nonfunctioning remnant of a functional organ in an ancestor

Word History and Origins

Origin of vestige¹

First recorded in 1535–45; from Middle French, from Latin vestīgium “footprint”

Word History and Origins

Origin of vestige¹

C17: via French from Latin vestīgium track

Synonym Study

See trace ¹.

Example Sentences

Back then, Korsh was a first-time TV creator and showrunner helming one of the vestiges of USA network’s “blue sky” era, which consisted of bright and breezy dramas like “White Collar” and “Monk.”

From Los Angeles Times

And yet there will inevitably be naysayers of the MAGA-ian sort who may decry the band’s inclusion as a vestige of the diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives they want to suppress.

From Los Angeles Times

“We will keep suing them until they adopt colorblind admissions and rid themselves of every last vestige of these odious and discriminatory practices.”

From Los Angeles Times

But one of the most joyous parts of watching and rewatching Paul King’s wonderful movie is that it’s happily running on the last vestiges of Obama-era twee.

From Salon

The company is burdened with nearly $40 billion in debt, a vestige of Discovery’s takeover of WarnerMedia from AT&T nearly three years ago.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• glimmer
• relic
• remnant
• residue